Toy.



J. J. MAHAN.

TOY.

- APPLIOATION FILED IIIB.3, 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

COLUMBIA PuNnuRAPH co.,w/\smNGTON, n. c.

JAMES J. MAI-IAN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

TOY.

Application filed February 3, 1910. Serial No. 541,801. ff

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. MAHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to toys, and particularly to such as are commonly known as walking toys. Its objects are, among others, to provide a novel and amusing device of this character which will travel on an inclined plane without other means of propulsion than gravity and which may be constructed of simple, inexpensive and durable parts.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a walking toy embodying the improvements. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical medial'section of the lower part of the toy, and Fig. 4 is a like section taken near one side.

The exterior of the mechanism A may be formed so as to represent a grotesque human figure or any other object, andris provided with arms A rigidly attached to the body portion and extending slightly forward of the same on either side provided with balancing rods B having weights B at their lower ends. These rods extend on oblique lines from the figure, and their length and direction will depend upon the width of the inclined plane 0, the distance between the feet of the figure and the other proportions of the figure. By giving them difierent angles a difi'erent movement or walk may also be given to the said figure, and it will, therefore, be understood that the length and angle of these rods maybe varied as desired for these purposes.

The inclined platform or walk C is mounted on suitable legs connected by means of a U-shaped offset portion C of the legs which is received by a horizontal cut in the end of the platform. The legs are made of one piece of material, and one pair may be provided for each end of the platform, those at one end being longer'than Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

those of the other so as to glve the proper inclination.

The pivot D upon whichthe legs G swing pendulum-fashion passes through suitable openings E in the outer shell or casing of the moving figure and through the upper ends of the legs. A plurality of these openings E are provided for the purpose of moving the pivot vertically and thus varying the movements of the toy and adjusting it to differently inclined surfaces. The preferred location of the pivot, however, is above the I arms, so that the balancing rods B are between the pivot and the feet. This arrangement tends toward stability and gives the figure a regular and certain movement. A pivot 'hole, however, is provided below the point at which the rods are attached, and may be used, if desired, for the purpose of giving the figure a more erratic and uncertain movement due to the fact that the weight is above the pivot and the center of gravity is therefore, more easily alfected. The upper ends of the legs G arebent over to form hooks G for the purpose of spacing the legs apart and preventing them moving laterally on the pivot. This is brought about by the fact that the pivot passes through the turned-down end G as well as through the leg proper.

The feet F at the lower end of the legs are of peculiar-formation. The bottom of each foot is inclined upwardly from toe to heel, so that when the foot is resting on the incline and parallel therewith the figure will be substantially erect. In this manner a better simulation of human perambulation is attained, The hollow between the toe and the heel is exaggerated and the forward vertical edge of the heel is inclined backward. This gives the feet a better hold on the platform, prevents the figure from slipping and also prevents it from walking oif the lower end of the platform.

The operation of the device is as follows: The figure is placed near the upper end of the incline and given a slight sidewise rocking motion. This causes one ofthe feet to be lifted from the platform, and permits the figure to tilt forward under the weight of' the bars 13.. This motion causes the lifted foot to swing forward sothat the figure 1s caught, after falling a short distance, by this foot. At this moment the figure swings toward the other side under the influence of the rods B and the opposite foot is thus lifted and permitted to fall forward. This movement continues until the figure reaches the end of the platform, when the footwhich last falls forward will pass off the end and will, therefore, not cause the opposite foot to be raised when the figure swings toward its side. If the foot chances to slip on the lower edge of the platform the forward edge of the heel will catch on the side edge so that the figure will merely lean forward over the lower end of the platform and recover its equilibrium. The movements of the legs are limited by slots A in the bottom of the casing, and where a narrow platform, such as is shown, is used, the figure is preventedfrom slipping off sidewise by the bars B which check its sidewise movement in either direction. hen the figure leans forward 011 reaching the lower end of the platform the weights B are thrown back on the opposite side of the feet so that the body balances and remains on the platform.

W'hat I claim is 1. In a device of the character described the combination of an outer shell or casing made to resemble human form, a plurality of legs pivoted within the same on a pin or bar mounted in the outer shell, said legs being formed of strips of flat metal with their upper ends bent over and down parallel with the main strip, and provided with alined openings in the downwardly bent portion and strip through which the pin passes, the said pin, a plurality of receses in the shell adapted to receive the said pin, the said legs being provided with feet on their lower ends having bottom surfaces inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the legs and a medial cut-out portion terminating in a heel having its lower edge pointed forward, a rod attached to the device between the leg pivots and the feet and outside of the same, a weight on the lower end of said rod, and slots in the bottom of the shell through which the legs extend, said slots being parallel with the line of travel of the device.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of an outer shell or casing, a plurality of legs pivoted at their upper ends within the same on a pin or bar mounted in the outer shell, the said pin, a plurality of recesses in the shell adapted to receive the said pin, the said legs being provided with feet on their lower ends having bottom surfaces inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the legs and a medial cut-out portion terminating in a heel having its lower forward edge pointed, a rod attached to the device between the leg pivots and the feet and outside of the same, and a weight on the lower end of said rod.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of an outer shell or casing, a plurality of legs pivoted at their upper ends within the same on a pin or bar mounted in the outer shell, the said pin, a plurality of recesses in the shell adapted to receive the said pin, the said legs being provided with feet on their lower ends having a medial cut-out portion terminating in a heel having its lower forward edge pointed, a rod attached to the device between the leg pivots and the feet and outside of the same, a weight on the lower end of said rod.

4:- In a device of the character described the combination of an outer shell or casing, a plurality of legs pivoted at their upper ends, the said legs being provided with feet on their lower ends having bottom surfaces inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the legs and a medial cut-out portion terminating in a heel having its lower forward edge pointed, a rod attached to the device between the leg pivots and the feet and outside of the shell, and slots in the bottom of the shell through which the legs extend, said slots being parallel with the line of travel of the device.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of an outer shell or casing, a plurality of legs pivoted at their upper ends, the said legs being provided with feet on their lower ends having bottom surfaces inclined with respect to the center line of the legs and a medial cut-out portion terminating in a heel having its lower forward edge pointed, a rod attached to the device outside of the shell.

6. The combination of a body or shell, a plurality of weights connected with the same outside its normal center of gravity, legs pivotally mounted on the body above the point at which the weights are attached and adapted to swing through the said center of gravity and means for limiting the oscillation of the said legs.

7 The combination of a body or shell, a plurality of weights connected with the same outside its normal center of gravity, legs pivotally mounted on the body and adapted to swing through the said center of gravity, means for limiting the oscillation of the said legs, and means for adjusting the position of the pivot of said legs.

8. The combination of a body or shell, a plurality of weights connected with the same outside its normal center of gravity, legs pivotally mounted on the body in the normal center of gravity and above the point at which the weights are attached and adapted to swing through the said center adapted to swing through the said center 10 of gravity, and means for limiting the oscilof gravity. lation of the said legs. Witness my hand this 31st day of J an- 9. The combination of a body or shell, a uary, 1910, at the city of New York, in the plurality of weights connected with the county and State of New York.

same outside its normal center of gravity, JAMES J. MAHAN. legs pivotally mounted on the body in the Witnesses:

normal center of gravity and above the MARGUERITE A. WESTERVELT,

point at which the weights are attached and ALAN O. MCDONNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

